J 2017

2D particle-in-cell simulations of the electron drift instability and associated anomalous electron transport in Hall-effect thrusters

CROES, Vivien, Trevor LAFLEUR, Zdeněk BONAVENTURA, Anne BOURDON, Pascal CHABERT et. al.

Basic information

Original name

2D particle-in-cell simulations of the electron drift instability and associated anomalous electron transport in Hall-effect thrusters

Authors

CROES, Vivien (250 France), Trevor LAFLEUR (710 South Africa), Zdeněk BONAVENTURA (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Anne BOURDON (250 France) and Pascal CHABERT (250 France)

Edition

PLASMA SOURCES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, BRISTOL, IOP PUBLISHING LTD, 2017, 0963-0252

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10305 Fluids and plasma physics

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

Impact factor

Impact factor: 3.939

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/17:00094681

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

UT WoS

000395698300001

Keywords in English

Hall effect thruster (HET); 2D particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation; anomalous electron transport; electron drift instability

Tags

Změněno: 13/4/2018 10:35, Ing. Nicole Zrilić

Abstract

V originále

In this work we study the electron drift instability in Hall-effect thrusters (HETs) using a 2D electrostatic particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation. The simulation is configured with a Cartesian coordinate system modeling the radial-azimuthal ( r –q ) plane for large radius thrusters. A magnetic field, B 0 , is aligned along the Oy axis (r direction), a constant applied electric field, E0 , along the Oz axis (perpendicular to the simulation plane), and the E0 x B0 direction is along the Ox axis (theta direction). Although electron transport can be well described by electron–neutral collisions for low plasma densities, at high densities (similar to those in typical HETs), a strong instability is observed that enhances the electron cross-field mobility; even in the absence of electron–neutral collisions. The instability generates high frequency (of the order of MHz) and short wavelength (of the order of mm) fluctuations in both the azimuthal electric field and charged particle densities, and propagates in the E0 x B0 direction with a velocity close to the ion sound speed. The correlation between the electric field and density fluctuations (which leads to an enhanced electron–ion friction force) is investigated and shown to be directly responsible for the increased electron transport. Results are compared with a recent kinetic theory, showing good agreement with the instability properties and electron transport.

Links

GA15-04023S, research and development project
Name: Pokročilý výzkum kinetických procesů ve streamerových výbojích
Investor: Czech Science Foundation
LO1411, research and development project
Name: Rozvoj centra pro nízkonákladové plazmové a nanotechnologické povrchové úpravy (Acronym: CEPLANT plus)
Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR